Today,
after choosing the Twelve Apostles, Jesus sends them out to preach
and He instructs them. He warns them against persecutions they are
likely to suffer, and gives them some advice regarding what their
attitude should be: «Do not be afraid of those who kill the
body, but have no power to kill the soul. Rather be afraid of him who
can destroy both body and soul in hell» (Mt 10:28). This
Sunday introduction develops the subject of the persecution of Christ
in a style reminding us of the last part of the Sermon of the Mount
Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:11).
Jesus'
discourse is paradoxical: on one hand He says twice «do not be
afraid», and He introduces us to a providential Father that
even takes care of small birds; but, on the other hand, He does not
mention whether this same Father will protect us from these setbacks;
rather, He points out that if we follow him, we are bound to
experience the same fate that befell over him and all the other
prophets. How can we, therefore, understand this protection under
God? God's protection is God's capability of life-giving for us (our
soul), while rendering us happy even under persecutions and
tribulations. He is who grants us the joy of his Kingdom, that stems
from a profound life we can already enjoy here, and is our guarantee
of eternal life: «Whoever acknowledges me before others I will
acknowledge before my Father in heaven» (Mt 10:32).
The
conviction that in the difficult moments of our life God is on our
side, will supply us the needed courage to proclaim Jesus' words from
the housetops (cf Mt 10:27), and furnish us too with the
energy we require to do good, so that, through our deeds, people may
glorify our Father in Heaven. St. Anselm teaches us: «Do
everything for God and for that happy and eternal life our Saviour
deigns to grant us in Heaven».
